Alianza Cívica withdraws from the National Coalition in Nicaragua

(Credit: INTI OCON / AFP via Getty Images)

(CNN Spanish) -

In Nicaragua, executives of the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy announced their separation from the opposition National Coalition and indicated that they were promoting a traditional policy, not inclusive and without popular support, according to a statement read this Monday in press conference in Managua.

The National Coalition, launched on January 17, was made up of seven groups: the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy;

the Blue and White National Unit;

the Campesino Movement and four political parties.

In its statement, the Alliance assures that since the creation of the National Coalition it became clear that if it became an electoral platform for the elections, it would not have sufficient support from the citizens to defeat what it called the "dictatorship." In Nicaragua.

“And given that a dynamic has not been promoted to reach agreements with other opposition organizations that are not in the National Coalition, it is evident that other new ways must be sought that allow all the democratic forces of the opposition that they want to be brought together. go to the elections to be able to win them ”, said the organization in its statement.

The decision, according to the statement, is made after a process of reflection and discussion within their structures with national political actors, social sectors and unions that make up the Civic Alliance.

“And that is why we left the National Coalition, to promote a unitary and inclusive political and electoral platform that allows all the democratic organizations of the opposition to unite to stand up to the dictatorship, and open a new era of democracy in Nicaragua, freedoms and social progress ».

Reactions to the departure of Alianza Cívica

After the position of the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy was made known, the Blue and White National Unity, a member of the National Coalition, expressed through a statement that it regrets "any action that remains in the processes of consolidation of a single opposition bloc, facing a Nicaragua united in cohesion to achieve our freedom and get out of the dictatorship.

International examples show that strength is achieved in unity and in division, only the Ortega-Murillo win ”, referring to President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo.

Through her social networks, the sociologist Elvira Cuadra wrote that Alianza Cívica's decision is a "gradual collapse" of said organization and an "announced death."

"It was an alliance built for that, to negotiate, and represent at that time (2018), Nicaraguan society that had turned to the streets."

According to Cuadra, it is up to the National Coalition "to take charge of this political responsibility towards the citizens."

The Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy was initially formed by the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua to represent citizens in the first national dialogue with the government of Daniel Ortega, which began on May 16, 2018. The end of this exercise was discuss the roadmap to follow in the country after a series of protests over the political and social crisis in Nicaragua.

At the time of its formation, the Civic Alliance was made up of student, business, union, academic leaders, and the Campesino Movement.

civic alliance